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Establishing

The Registrar is responsible for administering the CATSI Act. This involves creating a sustainable regulatory framework to give effect to the legislation.

We set standards for good governance, identify and manage risks, and conduct research and analysis to understand where there are patterns of issues that need to be addressed. We provide information to government, corporations and the wider community about the performance of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector.

Conduct research

This yearbook presents data on the full range of functions of the Registrar. ORIC also publishes an annual report on the activities and growth of the 500 highest-earning corporations, and simple statistical reports on external administrations (annually) and complaints about corporations (twice-yearly).

The combined income of the top 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations for 2014–15 was $1.88 billion—that was up 8.2 per cent from the year before.

The ten-year average annual growth rate of total income for corporations was 9.4 per cent.

The average income of the top 500 corporations increased from $3.48 million to $3.76 million.

In 2014–15, corporations in the Pilbara region experienced the first fall in average income since 2007–08. However their average income remained well above the national average.

In 2014–15 the greatest source of revenue for the top 20 corporations was self-generated income (43 per cent of total income). Government funding made up 39.3 per cent of total income.

As in 2013–14, the health and community services sector was the largest with 197 of the top 500 corporations operating in this sector (39.4 per cent).

There were 11 095 full-time equivalent employees within the top 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

The combined value of assets held by the top 500 corporations was $2.224 billion (compared to $2.104 billion in 2013–14, an increase of 5.7 per cent).

At 30 June 2015 there were 144 registered native title bodies corporate (RNTBCs)—15 more than the year before, and their combined income almost doubled, from $57.5 million to $112 million. Among the 54.2 per cent of RNTBCs that recorded an income greater than zero, the average income was $1,436,136, compared to $844,905 in 2013–14. In other words, those that grew, grew by 70 per cent.

The top 500 report for 2014–15 featured a case study of Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation that provides affordable housing for Aboriginal people in and around Brisbane. Twenty-five years after it started with a $100 donation, Winnam is a thriving concern with over $22 million in assets. Becky Thomson, chairperson, is ‘proud and privileged to be one of three women who are founding board members’.

bi-annual reports on complaints involving corporations including their nature (by category), frequency and complexity, and concentration within each state and territory.

In 2016–17 not a single liquidator, receiver or voluntary administrator was appointed to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation. Another indicator of the comparatively low rate of failure of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations registered under the CATSI Act.

All eight external administrations that did start in 2016–17 were special administrations under the CATSI Act, which are intended to restructure corporations and return them to member control (see 'Seeking remedy and deterring'.)

The majority of external administration appointments occurred in the Northern Territory, and most corporations entering external administration conducted land management as their principal business activity.

The main reason for the appointment of an external administrator in 2016–17 was to protect the interests of the public, members or creditors.

Consistent with the last few years, in 2016–17 Queensland corporations were the subject of a proportionally high number of complaints—30.6 per cent, when they represent only 23.6 per cent of all corporations. Conversely, Northern Territory corporations were the subject of only 8.5 per cent of complaints, even though they represent 23.4 per cent of all corporations.

Develop policy

As a stakeholder in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, ORIC is consulted in relation to policy reform or new initiatives. Requests for input may come from ministers, government departments or agencies or parliamentary committees and may be informal or formal. In 2016–17 the main focus of ORIC’s policy work was contributing to the external review of ORIC commissioned by PMC and undertaken by KPMG, and preparing for the technical review of the CATSI Act that commenced on 5 July 2017. Both of these major pieces of work will contribute to strengthening ORIC’s support services and regulation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.

Understand sector risks and issues

In 2017 ORIC formalised its internal process for identifying and mitigating the risks associated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. In accordance with our Strategic risk framework, we established a risk working group to collect information that staff receive in the course of their daily work and—periodically—to plan a response. The risk working group met for the first time at the end of May.

The issues identified by the risk working group are considered in our annual planning process where we devise responses to address those risks. This process guides regulatory activities, training, prioritisation of disputes and complaints assistance, and general information and communication activities. Examples of responses initiated through this process include our internal project to review the readability and consistency of existing rule books; revisions to guidance such as policy statements; and themes for ORIC Oracle newsletters.

Engage stakeholders

As part of ongoing business we engage and consult with government and industry stakeholders. For example we have quarterly meetings with the Department of Health and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, and fortnightly meetings with our portfolio department, PMC. We also engage with other national, state and territory regulators and enforcement bodies. We use the opportunity to gather their feedback on our services and regulatory activities, as well as to discuss issues relevant to the sector and regulation. This information is also used to inform our annual planning.

During the year we sought feedback from PMC on our regulatory approach as well as our strategic and corporate plans. We also assisted the Australian National Audit Office and KPMG to solicit feedback from the public, government agencies and corporations on our administration of the CATSI Act.

ORIC helps to inform the broader community about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and ORIC’s regulatory activity through a wide range of communication activities and consultation.

oric.gov.au

The ORIC website at oric.gov.au provides information and resources for and about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. Interested people can:

download corporations’ public documents

access statistical reports

check the list of prosecution outcomes

sign up for news and media releases.

It’s also a portal through which, for example, corporations can:

lodge their documents

advertise job vacancies

register for training.

In 2016–17 there were 168,238 sessions on the website by 77,722 users. On average users viewed 2.6 pages per session.

In 2016–17 ORIC commissioned an audit of our website’s usability and accessibility. It was a useful exercise in affirming that the site has improved significantly since the last audit, in 2008, and in identifying adjustments we can make to ensure that the site is optimised for those in remote areas and with low literacy or English as a second or third language.

Media releases

The Registrar issues regular media releases on significant developments or events affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations. This year we improved our subscription service to make it more accessible and relevant for media professionals and other interested people to receive ORIC media releases by email.

In 2016–17 the Registrar issued 26 media releases, all of which are available on the ORIC website.

Social media

We share news and stories through the indigenous.gov.au social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter. In 2016–17 our eight posts on Facebook prompted 715 likes, comments and shares; and our ten posts on Twitter prompted 93 equivalent reactions.

Spotlight on…

Each month we publish a good news story about an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporation working to benefit its members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. For the featured corporation, it’s an affirmation of their efforts and achievements. For the broader public it’s a way to learn more about this vibrant, diverse sector.

Events and community activities

ORIC participates in and organises a range of events and community activities to catch up with the general community and improve our understanding of their interests and concerns. We also use these opportunities to share information about the CATSI Act and good governance, data on the sector and news about corporation achievements.

10th anniversary of the CATSI Act

The CATSI Act came into effect on 1 July 2007. On 5 July 2017 the Registrar and the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, held an event in Darwin to celebrate ten years of achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations under the legislation. It was also an opportunity for the Minister to announce that ORIC would:

receive an additional $1 million funding each year for four years for corporate governance training, examinations, special administrations and investigations of wrongdoing

lead a technical review of the CATSI Act.

Around 100 guests attended the event, including some who travelled from as far as Borroloola, Katherine and Alice Springs; The Lord Mayor of Darwin, Katrina Fong Lim; Luke Gosling, federal Member for Solomon; and local Indigenous broadcasters: Aboriginal Broadcasting Australia incorporating Radio Larrakia Aboriginal Corporation, and Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (Aboriginal Corporation).

National Native Title Conference

Registered native title bodies corporate (RNTBCs) are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations that have obligations under the Native Title Act 1993. By law these corporations must register under the CATSI Act, and cannot be deregistered as long as they remain an RNTBC and manage or hold native title rights. The annual National Native Title Conference is the principal gathering for the sector, with over 800 delegates. It provides a valuable opportunity to engage face-to-face with native title corporations, representative bodies and other stakeholders in the sector. In 2017 the conference was held in Townsville, Queensland, from 5 to 7 June. ORIC was a sponsor for the conference and hosted an information stall.

NAIDOC week

NAIDOC week is held in the first full week of July each year. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and society.

ORIC encourages all staff to participate in local celebrations and activities that take place across the country during NAIDOC week. In Canberra, staff hosted an information stall at the ACT NAIDOC family day on Sunday, 2 July 2017 at the University of Canberra.

Brungle community

In February 2017 ORIC’s management team and a few other staff gathered for business and strategic planning activities on Wiradjuri country in Brungle near Tumut, New South Wales. Local elders Aunty Sonia Piper and Aunty Phyllis Freeman provided a welcome to country for our planning session and shared with us the history of the mission and area. Later on the elders gave the ORIC team a tour around the community and the old mission, pointing out specific landmarks. The tour culminated with a visit to the community centre where the Brungle Health and Community Aboriginal Corporation is based. Staff and volunteers helped the team to learn more about what the corporation does, how it operates and benefits they provide to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the Brungle community. Although it’s small in population, at just 307 people, the community provides a warm welcome. It’s clear that the hard-working and inclusive nature of the local Wiradjuri people underpins the community‘s strength.

Community and culture

Cultural understanding and appreciation is core to ORIC's values and effective and appropriate administration of the CATSI Act. ORIC staff are encouraged to participate in annual and special events that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and anniversaries.

In November 2016 ORIC staff continued their cultural learning journeys by participating in a cultural awareness program. The workshops organised by ORIC this year featured a special focus on the history and cultural practices of Torres Strait Islanders.

Clockwise from top-left: Aunty Phyllis Freeman tells Anthony Beven about the history of Brungle community; an event marking 50 years since the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the Mabo decision—Rebecca Stewart with Senator Pat Dodson, and Luke Evans with Senator Nigel Scullion; Elders Aunty Sonia Piper and Aunty Phyllis Freeman with Anthony Beven and Joe Mastrolembo; NAIDOC family day stall; Sorry Day bridge walk.

Partnerships

ORIC maintains partnerships with a range of organisations for different purposes. As at 30 June 2017 we had current memorandums of understanding with the following organisations:

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

National Native Title Tribunal

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

To provide our pro bono legal assistance service, LawHelp, in 2016–17 we worked with 13 of Australia’s leading law firms:

Allens

Ashurst

Australian Government Solicitor (AGS)

Bradley Allen Love Lawyers

Castledine Gregory Law & Mediation

Clayton Utz

DLA Piper Australia

Herbert Smith Freehills

HWL Ebsworth Lawyers

Jackson McDonald Lawyers

Minter Ellison

Taylor David Lawyers

Tress Cox Lawyers.

Other partnerships active in 2016–17 were with:

state governments of New South Wales and Western Australia—for corporate governance training programs

Amend legislation and regulations

To operate effectively and efficiently as a regulator, the Registrar and ORIC need the driving legislation—the CATSI Act—to be clear, robust and appropriate to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, people and communities.

In September 2016 PMC commissioned KPMG to identify opportunities to enhance the CATSI Act and, as noted earlier, to improve the effectiveness of ORIC. In its report, KPMG said there were opportunities to improve the CATSI Act, but these represent enhancements rather than a fundamental change in approach. They said there were potential amendments to the CATSI Act to make it stronger, more streamlined and better aligned with mainstream corporate regulation.

ORIC has identified fit-for-purpose legislation as a strategic priority for 2017–20. As noted, on 5 July 2017 the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, announced that ORIC would lead a technical review of the legislation in 2017–18. That review has commenced and will be completed by the end of 2017.

In late 2016 ORIC began preparing to remake the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Regulations 2007 which under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 were due to sunset on 1 October 2017. Given the technical review of the CATSI Act the Australian Government decided to re-make the regulations in largely the same form, other than minor updates and new regulation numbering. More substantial changes will be considered as part of any amendments to the CATSI Act adopted by the Australian Government flowing from the technical review of the CATSI Act.